Shortly after her husband’s arrest, Asa Ellerup initiated divorce proceedings, her attorney Robert Macedonio confirmed to CNN. No further comment was given on the matter.
A Family Life Lived in Ignorance
Ellerup was reportedly taken aback by her husband’s criminal charges, according to Harrison. Unknowingly, her DNA was a critical element that helped authorities link Rex Heuermann to the aforementioned crimes.
Their life together, spanning 27 years since their marriage in April 1996, was mostly lived in Rex Heuermann’s childhood home in the Long Island suburb of Massapequa Park. Despite their longstanding presence in the community, their neighbors knew surprisingly little about the family.
Described by neighbors as distant, the family and their house were often referred to as “creepy”, according to Long Island Press. Neighbors, including Frankie Musto, said, “The family is very to themselves, quiet. We never saw anything suspicious.”
A Shocked and Embarrassed Family
When authorities disclosed the details of the alleged crimes to Ellerup and her daughter, they were “shocked, disgusted, embarrassed,” according to Harrison. He interprets their reaction as a sign of their ignorance about Rex Heuermann’s hidden life. However, he added, “time will tell.”
